Apparatus for reclaiming gasoline



Jul 7, 1925;

Fileci Jan 21, 1924 MR km Mn 7 INVENTOR flrchiba id Donald QNE n ATTOXPatented July 7, i925.

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ARCHIBALD DONALD STEWART, OF WESTBURY, NEW YORK.

APPARATUS FOR RECLAIMING GASOLINE.

Application filed January 21, 1924. Serial No. 637,510.

To all when; it may concern:

lie it known that I, Anni-Imam DONALD S'rl-zwanr. a citizen of theUnited States,

and resident of llestbury, Long Island, in the county of Nassau andState of New York, haye invented certain new and use ful lm jn'ovcmentsin Apparatus for Beclaiming Gasoline, of. which the following aspecification.

My invention relates to appliances or apparatus for purifying orreclaiming gasoline and similar cleansing liquids after they have beenemployed for cleaning purposes so that the liquids can be. reused,usually under modern conditions in a substantially continuous system ofcirculation from the cleaning or washing apparatus to the reclaiming orpurifying apparatus and back again, or sometimes with an interposedstorage tank.

Whilc the invention is here exemplified by structure especially adaptedfor cleaning gasoline, or similar light hydrocarbons, it is notnecessarily limited as to its utility, but may be employedwhereverconditions are substantially similar.

An important object of the invention is to provide means to firstconsolidate, or to a considerable extent separate the contained greasesfrom the dirty cleansing liquid, and to then subject.the partiallyseparated or collected greases to an alkaline solution to convert or lixthem and separate them finally from the cleaning liquid. i

Another object is to,iniroduce the, dirty liquid for the removal ofgrease or other impurities without unduly agitating or disturbing thecleansing solution or liquid, and in such a way that the grease or otherimpurities will collect in a sump from which they are easily removable.i

A 'lurther object is to provide easy means for cleaningpipes or otherpassages of the apparatus and also for agitating the waste i material inthe sump and removing it.

Thejinvention consists in apparatus or structures for realizing theabove stated and other objects and advantages, as rsufliciently furtherexplained her-miter.

In the accompanying drawings;

Figure 1 shows apparatus embodying the invention in one form, twocleaning appliances beingshown in series, with one of them in section.

Figure 2 is a detail in top plan of the gasoline into an alkalinesolution or other cleaning-liquid injecting or distributing devlce.

The apparatus as here embodied consists of suitable parts or devicesmainly arranged within two tanks, 1 and 2, which are conveniently ofcircular cross section. The in ternal structure of both tanks may be substantially similar or identical, although the mode of using them whenarranged in series in the system, may be somewhat different assuiiiciently explained hereafter.

Assuificientlyshown in connection with tank 1, each cylindrical tankbody has a top or headerB, and at the bottom a sump 4 whichconvenientlff, although not necessa1'1ly, 1n inverted coriiml form. Thetanks are often buried infthelground; otherwise, when arrangedaboyeground suitable sup. ports will be provided.

Between the sump and the main tank interior a substantially horizontalpartition plate 5, which may be moderately ome shaped, as shown.Connection from the sump t0 the main tank is afforded by an Opening 6atoneside of the partition.

Suitable purifying liquid or solution is placed in each Sump. Usually analkaline solution, such as caustic soda, is placed in the sump of tank1, mainly for the purpose of removing grease from the cleansing liquid,while water may be placed inthe sump of tank 2 to remove otherextraneous matter, sufficiently described as non-greasy.

To properly introduce the cleaning liquid into the sump without unduedisturbance of the liquid or solution therein, I provide a suitablenumber of distributing devices, which, in the present case, arespecifically in the form of hollow balls 7, provided with upwardlydirected discharge apertures 8, which may occupy substantially the upperhalf, or somewhat less, of the ball surface.

A pipe 9 is connected to each ball at the topand all these pipes areconnected to a 4-way coupling 10, and this in turn is connected by asuitable pipe fitting 11 to a horizontal pipe 12. The dirty cleaningliquid may in some cases be conducted directly to the dis tributingballs by a suitable outward connection to pipe 12, but otherwise, andpreferably in most. cases, the liquid is first conducted to apreliminary separating apparatus or chamber, as further describedhereafter.

Desirably, a shi ld or bafile plate 14 'is 10- cated above eachdistributing hall and the discharge apertures thereof, these ballleplates being desirably of inverted, dished or part-spherical form, andthey are conveniently supported upon vertical portions of the pipes 9.

Desirably, a preliminary or intermediate chamber is provided in one orboth of the tanks. This may be formed by a partition 21 which isdesirably arranged so that the upper portion of the prelin'iinarychamber will be of irelatively large area, and the chamber may thentaper down to the point of connection to pipe 12. A plurality ofhorizontal partitions or batlie plates 22 are arranged in the upperportion of the intermediate chamber, communicating openings 23 beingprovided in preferably staggered arrangement; and desirably, cleats orritlle flanges 24 are provided on the upper surfaces of these plates.

The dirty cleaning liquid is introduced through a pipe which, in thisinstance, discharges above the upper partition or separating plate 22 inintermediate chamber 20. Since tank 1 is usually the first in theseries, it' more than one tank is employed, the cleaning liquid as itenters contains not only a considerable quantity of extraneous matterwhich comes under the general heading of non-greasy dirt,but alsocontains a large amount of various heavy oils'or greases extracted fromfabrics or garments. in the flow ot' the liquid over the riflle flanges,and the plates 22, in the circuitous course provided by the staggeredarrangement of the conmmnicating openings 23, the liquid is thoroughlystirred or agitated and the-grease is to a great extent collected,agglomerated or separated in a physical sense from the gasoline: orotherwise stated, the grease is collected into particles or lumps otgreater or less size, which pass along with the gasoline. throughpip'ti' 12 to the distributing balls and out through their dischargeopenings, which direct the liquid upward toward and against the battleplates 14.

By reason of the considerable number of distributing balls and the largenumber of relatively small openings therein, and further by reason ofthe ballle plates which check the course of the discharged liquid anddivert'it downward through the caustic. solu tion, the flow of the dirtyand greasy-liquid is at moderate speed, and undue agitation of thepurifying solution is avoided, while at the same time a .very intimatecontact of the tlirty hydrocarbon and the grease therein 'ivith thecleansing solution is The by the cansoperation being greatly theprevious partial separainsured. grease is conyerted or solidified ticsolution, this facilitated by tion or agglomeration of the grease abovereferred to.

The separated grease remains in theisump while the gasoline containingmore or less non-greasy dirt rises through aperture 6 toward the top ofthe tank, from which it is taken oil' through a pipe in to tank 2, inwhich the operations may be similar, except that in some cases thepreliminary or initial separating chamber 20 may be omitted.

A vent pipe is desirably provided, lead ing from any suitable outletpoint through header 2 and through partition plate 5 to a point ofconnection with the sump, to take olf air or accumulated gases. A steampipe 51 is also desirably provided, leading from any desirable source otsteam under suitable pressure, through the header and partition 5 to apoint of conncetion with pipe fitting 11. At suit-able intenvals steammay be admitted through pipe .31 to pipes 9 and balls '7 to clear fromthem and the discharge openings 8, any accumulated grease or otherobstructing material.

A steam pipe 52 is also desirably provided, leading to a discharge point52 somewhat above the bottom of the sump. and a cleaning pipe 54 is alsoprovided, having its opening 55 located near the. sump bottom. Steam isadmitted at intervals through pipe 52 to agitate and loosen theaccumulated grease or other material in the sump, which is then drawnoil through pipe 54.

Fresh caustic solution may be introduced into the sump in any convenientway, for instance, by pouring it through pipe 30 by any suitable valveconnection; or a separate opening may be provided in the. intermediatechamber 20 for this purpose.

The pipe connections to tank 2 may be substantially similar, andexterior portions of the pipe are identified by the same numerals as thecorrespomling pipes of tank 1.

The principal function of tank 2 is to re move non-greasy matter fromthe cleaning liquid; otherwise the operation is substan tially the sameas explained in connection with tank'l. The purified cleaning liquid isdischarged from tank 2 through a pipe. (30 to a storage tank or directlyto a cleaning" apparatus, aml suitable pumps a e. provided as necessaryfor the circulation of the liquid. The present invention does not relateto the general cleaning installation or to the circulating systemthereof, and such details are therefore not shown.

After considering this exemplifying embodiment, persons skilled in theart will understand that many variations may be made within the scope ofthe invention, and I therefore conten'iplate. the employment of anystructures that are properly within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a tank, a partitiondefining a sump at the lower end of the tank and having an opening forcommunication between the lit? sump and tank, a plurality ofdistributors substantially symmetrically arranged in the sump, a pipefitting and pipe branches leading therefrom to the distributors, apreliminary chamber connected to said pipe fitting, means for supplyingdirty cleaning liquid v to the preliminary chamber, and means in saidchamber for effecting preliminary separation of extraneous matter fromthe cleaning liquid.

2. Apparatus of the class described, com prising a tank, a partitiondefining a sump at the lower end. of the tank and having an opening forcommunication between the sump and tank, a plurality of distributorssubstantially symmetrically arranged in the sump, a pipe fitting andpipe branches leading therefrom to the distributors, a preliminarychamber connected to said pipe fitting, means for supplying dirtycleaning liquid to the preliminary chamber, means in said chamber forefi'ecting preliminary separation of extraneous matter from the cleaningliquid, and a steam pipe connected to said pipe fitting to clear out thedistributors and their connecting pipes and discharge openings.

Apparatus of the class described, comprising a tank, a partitiondefining a sump at the lower end of the tank and having an opening forcommunication between the sump and tank, a plurality of distributorssymmetrically arranged in the sum a pipe fitting and pipe branchesleading t ierefroni to the. distributors, a preliminary chamberconnected to said pipe fitting, means for supplying dirty cleaningliquid to the preliminar'y chamber, means in said chamber for effectingpreliminary separation of e"- traneous matter from the cleaning liquid,

,neous matter from the cleaning liquid, and

prising a tank, a partition defining a sump at the lower end of the tankand having opening for communication between the sump and tank, aplurality of distributors synmietrically arranged in the sump, a ffitting and pipe branches leading there to the distributors,prelin'iinary n connected te-said pipe fitting, means for plying dirtycleaning liquid to the pi *.ni.- nary chamber, means in said chamber orefiecting preliminary separation oi extra:

a discharge pipe and a steam pipe comma eating with. the sump near thethereof.

5. Apparatus of the class described, com.- prising a tank, a partitiondefining a snrop at the lower end of the tank and having 12": openingfor conununication between sump and tank, a plurality of diatribesymmetrically arranged in'tbe sump, a fitting and pipe branches leadingtlier to the distributors, a preliminary chamber connected to said pipefitting, for supplying dirty cleaning liquid to the liminary chamber,means in said chamber for eflecting preliminary separation of extraneous matter from the cleaning liquid, vent pipe communicating withthe sump close to said partition, and a steam pipe con" nected to saidpipe fitting to clear out t e distributors and their connecting pipesand discharge openings. I

Signed at New York in the county of New York and State of New York thislitt e day of January A. D. 1924.

ARCHlElAtll DONALD bTEWAtltil

